Tri-Radial Port Extension for Difficult Gallbladder Extraction

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a common operation for gallbladder stones. In some patients, the removed gallbladder is difficult to extract through the umbilical port because it is large, thick-walled, or packed with stones. Surgeons commonly enlarge the fascial opening either vertically or horizontally to remove the specimen. These extensions may cause bleeding, tissue trauma, pain, and possible port-site complications. This study compares three methods of enlarging the umbilical fascial opening during difficult gallbladder extraction: vertical fascial extension, horizontal fascial extension, and a new tri-radial fascial micro-incision technique called Tareq's Port Extension (TPE). In TPE, three small radial cuts are made around the fascial opening to create a controlled expansion and facilitate extraction. The study aims to determine whether TPE reduces extraction difficulty, extraction-site bleeding, extraction time, postoperative pain, and port-site complications compared with conventional vertical and horizontal fascial extension techniques. Patients will also be followed for 12 months to assess port-site hernia.